Mechanical bursh



DeC.l 30, 1941. o. s. HERSHEY 2,267,916

MECHANICAL BRUSH f Filed Feb.. 2o, 19:59

@92, W, H Z2 5 www MMM JM Patented Dec. 30, 1941 MECHANICAL BRUSH Orville S. Hershey, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Hershey Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,354

' 4 claims. (c1. 15-22) bristles which constitute the brush are moved back and forth over the surface which isbeing operated upon whereby to effect a thorough cleansing thereof. The brush mechanism, according to my invention, is light, compact, simple and quiet in operation. It is accommodated within a case of small size so as to be conveniently handled when in use. Power for reciprocating the head may be transmitted from an electric motor in any appropriate way as for example through a flexible shaft which is releasably connected to the case. These various advantages, as well as others as will hereinafter appear, may be realized by the brush of my'invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is ya perspective View of the brush in its entirety; l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the brush taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in perspective showing one end of the case which is equipped with a pin with which the operating unit engages when fitted in place; and

Fig. '7 is a detail in perspective of one of the thrust fittings with which the crank shaft engages to effect a reciprocation of the associated bar.

The present mechanical brush comprises a case C of suitable metal, plastic or other material, in the form of a box enclosed on all sides except the bottom. Fitted to the top of the case is a handle H. Within the case so as to extend across the open bottom thereof is the operating brush head mounted for reciprocation therewithin. This head may comprise a plurality of bars B each reciprocable within a frame that includes a series of spaced guides g extending lengthwise of the case, the several guides being connected irremovably at their'opposite ends to cross bars h (see Fig. 5). The brush head is releasably secured within the case by any suitable ysite sides to receive one of the guides.

means. For this purpose one of the cross bars is shown as formed with curved tongues I0 (see Fig. 3) adapted to hook over and around a pin I I which is extended transversely across the case near one end, the tongues being disengageable from the pin only when the operating head has been swung outwardly from the case to a wide angle. The cross bar at the opposite end of the frameis upturned to provide a wall I2 which ts within the proximate end Wall of the case where it may be releasably held by a spring catch I3. By disengaging the catch, the proximate end of the operating head is released whereby it may be swung out of the case permitting the opposite end thereafter to be disconnected. In this way the entire operating head may, upon occasion, be withdrawn from the case for purposes of cleaning, repair or `anything else. The head furnishes a fast mounting for plural tufts I4 of bristles arranged preferably in rows, either straight or staggered, four of the former being shown along with two of the latter.

As shown best in Fig. 4, each reciprocating bar is -provided with a groove in each of its oppo- The length of each bar is somewhat less than that of the case so that it may have freedom for reciprocation through a predetermined range of movement. To produce such reciprocations, ac-

cording to a prearranged order, I utilize a shaft S having one end rotatably supported Within a boss I5 vwhich is outwardly extended from one side wall of the case, there being a collar I6 extended outwardly from the opposite case wall to form interiorly thereof a second bearing for the shaft. As shown, between its two ends, for a distance which is substantially the width of the case, the shaft is formed with a plurality of cranks c supporting between them pins p which may be disposed equidistantly about the axisof the shaft, preferably about degrees apart. Each crank pin traverses a slot 20 which is formed near the mid-point of one of thereciprocable bars which is built up in its-center region to provide such a slot within which the crank pin may move upand down, as thev shaft is rotated. Fitted within each bar slot is a bearing piece which, as best shown in Fig. 7, cornprises a fitting of bronze or other suitable material bent in U-fashion to provide opposed limbs 2| connected in spaced relation by a base plate 22, each limb being formed with a pair of flanges V23 extending lengthwise thereof and with an koblique tongue 24 thereover. In addition, below the flanges I have provided a pair of ears 25, and the surfaces 26 of the fitting which are oppositely faced are desirably coated With a vulcanized material for a purpose which will presently appear. n

Each bearing fitting is adapted for accommo- `polishing of its surface. `be moved about over the surface, and its bris- `brush is only one.

The entire fitting is sufciently resilient so that its two limbs will bear with pressure against the opposite sides of the slot, the vulcanized surfaces engaging therewith to cushion any impacts which result from the thrusts imparted by the crank pin in its movements through a circular path. It will be apparent therefore that as the shaft rotates, the crank pins will move up and down between the limbs of the several fittings so as yto impart an endwise moving force to each reciprocable bar, proceeding rst in one direction and then the other. Byutilizing a number of such cranks, located at desired distances apart, each operatively associated with one of the reciprocable bars, the several rows of bristles will be reciprocated in an ordered relation so that ,the entire working surface of the brush will be activated to enhance its effectiveness in use.

Such a brush may be applied advantageously to any surface from which it is desired to remove particles or which may require a cleaning or In use, the brush will movable from the case, as already pointed out.

This is desirable, if for no other reason than to permit of ready sterilization. When fitted in Vplace the open case side is substantially closed by the brush unit so that passage of foreign matter thereinto, particularly into the region of the shaft, is barred.

' The term brush as employed herein has a broad meaning since I contemplate applying the present device to many diversified uses. A scalp Others are surfaces of Wood, metal, composition, etc., which are to be treated to a scraping, smoothing or polishing operation. For example, a wooden oor may be advantageously scraped or smoothed or polished by the present device, provided that its operating head be equipped with a suitable working face, such as bristles, pads, etc. Rugs, fabrics, upholstery, furs, hides, etc., are other examples.

I claim:

l. In a mechanical brush, the combination of a case open on one side, a crank shaft extended across the case and mounted for rotation therein, a plurality of brush bars mounted in the case adapted for reciprocation in response to rotation of the shaft, each bar being slotted to receive therethrough a crank pin extending from the shaft, and a resilient bearing fitted within each bar slot adapted to receive the thrust of the associated crank pin, the fitting being provided wth cushion means whereby to absorb in part the impact resulting from the crank pin thrust when the shaft is rotated.

2. In a mechanical brush, the combination of a case open at one side, a crankshaft journaled in the case and extending across the open iside Iof the same and having a plurality of cranks, a brush head including a support provided With spaced guides and brush bars arranged between and guided by the said guides, said brush head being arranged within the case and being insertable in the case at the open side thereof and removable from the case through said open side, means for detachably interlocking one end of said support with the case, a catch for releasably securing the other end of the support to the case, and means for detachably connecting the brush bars with the cranks of the crank shaft.

3. In a mechanical brush, the combination of a unitary case open at the bottom, a brush head tted to the case at the open bottom thereof, and constituting a closure for the open bottom of the case andremovable as a unit therefrom and comprising a plurality of brush bars in side-by-side relation and arranged for longitudinal reciprocation: and means for slidably guiding the bars 4in the reciprocation of the same, a shaft mounted for rotation within the case and extending crosswise of the brush bars and provided with a plurality of eccentric elements, pairs of spaced driven means extended from the brush bars and having opposed surfaces extending in a direction normal to their plane of reciprocation and engageable operatively with the opposite vsides of said eccentric elements of the shaft to transmit therefrom reciprocatory thrusts to the brush bars, the space between each pair of driven means being open above the associated eccentric element whereby to permit free release of the driven means from such eccentric element when the brush head is separated from the case by a movement substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of the brush bars therein, and means for detachably securing the brush head to the case.

4. In a mechanical brush, the combination of a unitary case open at the bottom, a brush head tted to the case atthe open bottom thereof and forming a closure for the open bottom of the case and removable `as a unit therefrom and comprising a plurality of bars arranged in abutting side-by-side relation and provided in their contiguous surfaces with longitudinal grooves, a plurality of guides fitting in the grooves of the brush bars and slidably mounting the latter for longitudinal reciprocation, and means connecting the guides at the ends thereof beyond the brush bars and4 forming with the guides a support for said brush bars, means for detachably securing the support within the case, a shaft mounted for rotation within the case and eX- tended crosswise of the brush bars therein and provided with a plurality of eccentric elements, and driven means extended from the brush bars and formed with open-topped vertically extending slots having opposite faces in operative connection with the opposite sides of said eccentric elements of the shaft and adapted to transmit therefrom reciprocatory thrusts to the brush bars, the open top of said slot of each driven means providing an opening through which its associated eccentric element may freely pass when the support is separated from the case by a movement substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of the brush .bars to permit removal of the brush head away from the open bottom of the case.

oRvILLE s. HERsirEY. 

